Method of composite gate formation

ABSTRACT

Methods for forming a nitride barrier film layer in semiconductor devices such as gate structures, and barrier layers, semiconductor devices and gate electrodes are provided. The nitride layer is particularly useful as a barrier to boron diffusion into an oxide film. The nitride barrier layer is formed by selectively depositing silicon onto an oxide substrate as a thin layer, and then thermally annealing the silicon layer in a nitrogen-containing species or exposing the silicon to a plasma source of nitrogen to nitridize the silicon layer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/935,255, filed Aug. 22, 2001, currently pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication and, more particularly, to methods of forming nitride barrier layers used in semiconductor devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Metal-insulator-silicon (MIS) transistors, including metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) transistors, are comprised of doped source and drain regions formed in the surface of a semiconductor substrate, a channel region between the source and drain, and a gate electrode situated over the channel region. The gate electrode is physically and electrically separated from the channel by a thin gate dielectric (oxide) layer, typically silicon dioxide. The gate electrode typically comprises a doped polysilicon material. Diffusion of dopants such as boron from the doped polysilicon gate through the gate oxide layer into the underlying silicon substrate poses serious problems in processing and the functioning of the device.

To inhibit boron diffusion, nitrogen has been incorporated into the gate oxide layer. One conventional method of incorporating nitrogen into the oxide layer is by anneal of the oxide layer in nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N₂O), ammonia (NH₃) or other nitrogen-containing species. However, thermal nitridation of the gate oxide layer results in nitrogen incorporation at the silicon/oxide interface, which increases the ability of the gate oxide layer to suppress boron penetration but can result in transconductance loss.

Another method of forming a nitrided gate oxide layer is by remote plasma nitridation by exposing the surface of the oxide layer to a plasma generated species of nitrogen. This results in the polysilicon/oxide interface being nitridized as opposed to the gate oxide/silicon interface, thus avoiding transconductance loss. However, data indicates that the plasma nitridation may not be scaleable below 25 angstroms for integrated circuit (IC) devices with high processing thermal budgets such as DRAMS or flash devices due to the loss of integrity of the gate oxide as well as the loss of transconductance due to the proximity of nitrogen to the gate oxide-silicon interface.

Another conventional method to incorporate nitrogen into the gate oxide layer is to form a composite gate dielectric layer comprising a silicon nitride layer and an oxide layer. An issue with forming such a composite gate oxide is that the interface between the silicon nitride and oxide layers typically requires rigorous post-treatment processing to eliminate potential sources of charge trapping. In addition, composite gate dielectrics that comprise nitride and thermal oxides have limitations due to the total effective oxide thickness that can be achieved due to poor nucleation of nitride on oxide. This requires the formation of a relatively thick nitride layer resulting in an overall effective oxide thickness that is higher than that which is considered as usable.

Thus, a need exists for a nitride barrier layer that avoids such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods for forming a nitride barrier film layer useful in fabrication of semiconductor devices such as gate structures. The nitride layer is particularly useful as a barrier to boron diffusion into an oxide film.

In one aspect, the invention provides methods for forming a nitride barrier layer over a dielectric (oxide) substrate. The dielectric layer is exposed to a silicon-containing species under low partial pressure, high vacuum to nucleate the surface of the dielectric layer and deposit a thin layer of silicon, which is then exposed to a nitrogen-containing species to nitridize the silicon and form a silicon nitride barrier layer. The silicon-containing species can be deposited, for example, by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, low pressure chemical vapor deposition, rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition, among other processes. The silicon layer can comprise polysilicon or amorphous silicon. In an embodiment of the method, an oxide layer is irradiated with a silicon-containing species at a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr (10 mTorr) or less to selectively deposit a thin layer of silicon onto the oxide surface, preferably about 10 to about 20 angstroms thick. The silicon layer can then be thermally annealed in a nitrogen-containing species at a preferred temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C., or exposed to a plasma source of nitrogen to nitridize the silicon. The plasma nitrogen can be produced, for example, by a downstream microwave system, an electron cyclotron residence system, an inductive coupled plasma system, a radio frequency (RF) system, among others.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods for forming a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the method comprises exposing a dielectric layer disposed on a silicon substrate to a silicon-containing species under a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less, and a flow rate of less than 100 sccm to deposit a layer of about 10 to about 20 angstroms silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen-containing species to nitridize the silicon and form a silicon nitride barrier layer. The silicon layer can be thermally annealed in a nitrogen-containing species, preferably at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C., or exposed to a plasma source of a nitrogen-containing species.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods for forming a gate electrode. In one embodiment, the method comprises exposing a gate oxide (dielectric) layer disposed on a silicon substrate to a silicon-containing species at a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to deposit a layer of about 10 to about 20 angstroms silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen-containing species to form a silicon nitride barrier layer. In one embodiment, the silicon layer can be thermally annealed in a nitrogen-containing species, preferably at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. In another embodiment, the silicon layer can be exposed to a plasma source of nitrogen. The method can further comprise forming a conductive polysilicon layer comprising a boron dopant over the nitride barrier layer, and additional layers as desired including, for example, a metal silicide layer such as tungsten silicide (WSi_(x)), a barrier layer such as titanium nitride (TiN), a conductive metal layer such as tungsten (W), and an insulative nitride cap. The nitride barrier layer inhibits passage of boron from the conductive polysilicon layer into the gate oxide layer.

In another aspect, the invention provides a nitride barrier layer. The barrier layer comprises a nitridized silicon layer of about 10 to about 20 angstroms formed on an oxide layer by irradiating the oxide layer with a silicon-containing species under a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less, and nitridizing the silicon layer to silicon nitride by exposure to a nitrogen-containing species. In one embodiment, the nitride barrier layer comprises thermally annealed nitridized silicon having a thickness of about 10 to about 20 angstroms, and disposed adjacent an oxide layer. In another embodiment, the nitride barrier layer comprises a plasma nitrogen annealed silicon layer.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a semiconductor device. The device comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising silicon, an oxide layer disposed adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, and a diffusion barrier layer of about 10 to about 20 angstroms disposed adjacent the oxide layer and comprising a nitridized silicon layer formed by irradiating an oxide layer with a silicon-containing species under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less, and nitridizing the silicon to silicon nitride by exposure to a nitrogen-containing species. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a diffusion barrier layer comprising a thin layer of nitrogen annealed silicon, the silicon being thermally annealed or plasma annealed in a nitrogen-containing species.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a gate electrode. The gate electrode comprises a gate oxide layer disposed adjacent to a semiconductor substrate, typically silicon, and a diffusion barrier layer disposed adjacent the gate oxide layer; the diffusion barrier layer having a thickness of about 10 to about 20 angstroms and comprising a nitridized silicon layer formed by irradiating the gate oxide layer with a silicon-containing species under low partial pressure (about 10⁻² Torr or less), and nitridizing the silicon to silicon nitride by exposure to a nitrogen-containing species. In one embodiment, the diffusion barrier layer of the gate electrode comprises silicon thermally annealed in a nitrogen-containing species. In another embodiment, the gate electrode comprises a diffusion barrier comprising a plasma nitrogen annealed silicon.

The invention advantageously provides an improved interface between a silicon nitride barrier layer and an underlying dielectric (oxide) layer, having less traps and requiring less post treatment (e.g., oxidation) of the gate dielectric. In addition, the invention achieves a relatively thin nitride layer thus decreasing the effective oxide thickness as compared to conventionally used methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. Throughout the following views, the reference numerals will be used in the drawings, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the several views and in the description to indicate same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a semiconductor wafer fragment at a preliminary step of a processing sequence.

FIGS. 2-4 are views of the wafer fragment of FIG. 1 at subsequent and sequential processing steps, showing fabrication of a nitride barrier layer in a stacked gate electrode according to an embodiment of the method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be described generally with reference to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments only and not for purposes of limiting the same. The figures illustrate processing steps for use in the fabrication of semiconductor devices in accordance with the present invention. It should be readily apparent that the processing steps are only a portion of the entire fabrication process.

In the current application, the terms “semiconductive wafer fragment” or “wafer fragment” or “wafer” will be understood to mean any construction comprising semiconductor material, including but not limited to bulk semiconductive materials such as a semiconductor wafer (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials thereon), and semiconductive material layers (either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials). The term “substrate” refers to any supporting structure including, but not limited to, the semiconductive wafer fragments or wafers described above.

An embodiment of a method of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, in a method of forming a gate electrode in a stacked configuration. The gate electrode generally comprises a stack of materials including a gate oxide (dielectric), a conductively doped polysilicon, and can further include a metal silicide layer, a barrier layer, a conductive layer, and an insulative cap.

While the concepts of the invention are conducive to the fabrication of gate electrodes, the concepts described herein can be applied to other semiconductor devices that would likewise benefit from the fabrication of a nitride barrier film as described herein. Therefore, the depiction of the invention in reference to the manufacture of a stacked gate configuration is not meant to limit the extent to which one skilled in the art might apply the concepts taught herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of a semiconductor wafer 10 is shown at a preliminary processing step. The wafer fragment 10 in progress can comprise a semiconductor wafer substrate or the wafer along with various process layers formed thereon, including one or more semiconductor layers or other formations, and active or operable portions of semiconductor devices.

The wafer fragment 10 is shown as comprising a semiconductor substrate 12, an exemplary substrate being a bulk substrate material of semiconductive or semiconductor material, for example, monocrystalline silicon. The substrate 12 is provided with isolation regions 14 formed therein, for example, shallow trench isolation regions. A gate oxide (dielectric) layer 16 overlies the substrate 12. The gate oxide layer 16 can comprise, for example, silicon dioxide (SiO₂), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), hafnium dioxide (HfO₂), and aluminum trioxide (Al₂O₃), among others. The gate oxide layer 16 can be formed by conventional methods, and is typically an oxide layer grown directly on the base silicon substrate material 12, but can also be a deposited layer.

According to the invention, the gate oxide layer 14 is irradiated with a silicon-containing species under low partial pressure, high vacuum conditions to deposit (nucleate) a thin layer 18 of silicon onto the surface 16 of the gate oxide layer 14, as shown in FIG. 2. The silicon layer can comprise polysilicon or amorphous silicon. The processing conditions results in a silicon layer 18 that is thinner than can be achieved under standard silicon growth conditions, i.e., a temperature greater than 600° C., and a pressure greater than 100 mTorr, with SiH₂, Si₂H₇, or dichlorosilane (DCS, SiH₂Cl₂). Preferably, the silicon layer 18 is less than about 30 angstroms, preferably about 10 to about 20 angstroms thick. Exemplary silicon source materials include SiH₂Cl₂, silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄), and a silicon that contains a hydride such as silane (SiH₄), and disilane (Si₂H₆). The silicon material can be deposited as a layer utilizing any known deposition process including plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), and rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD).

Preferably, the silicon material is deposited using a thermal deposition process. Processing conditions include a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less, preferably about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr, preferably about 10⁻³ to about 10⁻⁵ Torr, a temperature of about 500° C. to about 700° C., with a flow rate of the silicon-containing species of less than 100 sccm, preferably about 1 sccm to about 50 sccm, for a duration of about 1 second to about 5 minutes.

Referring to FIG. 3, the silicon layer 18 is then nitridized to convert the silicon to silicon nitride (SiN_(x)) 20 by exposure to a nitrogen-containing gas using conventional methods. Such conventional methods include a rapid thermal nitridization (RTN), and plasma nitridization, among others. Examples of nitrogen-containing gases for use in such methods include nitrogen (N₂), ammonia (NH₃), nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)), and an N₂/He mixture in plasma. The use of a plasma source of nitrogen-containing gas is preferred.

The nitridation of the silicon layer 18 takes place under conditions that are optimal for nitridation of silicon. An example and preferred rapid thermal nitridization includes exposing the silicon layer to ammonia (NH₃) or other nitrogen-containing ambient at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C., a pressure of about 1 to about 760 Torr, with a flow rate of about 100 sccm to about 10,000 sccm, for a duration of about 1 second to about 180 minutes. The partial pressure of the nitrogen-containing ambient can range from a low partial pressure, for example, of about 1 to about 10 Torr, up to full atmospheric pressure to optimize processing as desired.

In a plasma nitridization of the silicon layer 18, the plasma stream can be produced by a variety of plasma sources, such as a downstream microwave system, an electron cyclotron residence (ECR) system, an inductive coupled plasma (ICP) system, a radio frequency (RF) system, among others. Exemplary plasma nitridization processes comprise exposing the wafer 10 to a remote microwave plasma source of nitrogen or an inductive coupled plasma (ICP) at a pressure of about 1 to about 20 Torr. The plasma typically comprises the nitrogen-containing gas, preferably nitrogen (N₂) or ammonia (NH₃), and an inert gas such as helium or argon to increase the plasma density.

The resulting nitride layer 20 functions as a barrier to inhibit the passage of boron through the gate dielectric layer from an overlying boron-doped gate polysilicon layer into the substrate 12.

The structure can then be processed by conventional methods to complete the gate electrode. An example of a gate stack comprises a gate oxide layer 16, a doped polysilicon layer 22, a barrier layer 24 such as tungsten nitride (WN), a layer 26 of tungsten or other conductive metal, and a nitride cap 28, as shown in FIG. 4. Another example of a gate stack (not shown) comprises a gate oxide, a doped polysilicon, tungsten silicide (WSi_(x)), titanium silicide (TiSi_(x)), cobalt silicide (CoSi_(x)), and a nitride cap. The gate layers can then be patterned and etched utilizing photolithographic processing (i.e., by dry etching) to form a transistor gate stack 30, as shown. Sidewalls 32 are provided adjacent the transistor gate, and can comprise, for example, silicon dioxide or silicon nitride.

Thereafter, a dopant implantation, typically with an n-type conductivity-enhancing dopant, can be performed to form the source/drain (S/D) regions 34 in the silicon substrate 12 proximate the gate 30. The source/drain regions together with the gate form an operative field effect transistor device.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure to nucleate the dielectric layer with silicon; and exposing the silicon on the dielectric layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the partial pressure is about 10⁻² Torr or less.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicon on the dielectric layer has a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicon gas is selected from the group consisting of dichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride, silane, and disilane.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of exposing the dielectric layer comprises chemical vapor deposition of the silicon gas, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of the silicon gas, low pressure chemical vapor deposition of the silicon gas, or a rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition of the silicon gas.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, ammonia, nitrogen trifluoride, nitrogen oxide, and a nitrogen-helium mixture.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen gas comprises a plasma source of nitrogen.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of exposing the silicon layer comprises thermally annealing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a gate oxide layer.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a conductive layer over the silicon nitride barrier layer.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the conductive layer comprises doped polysilicon.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the nitride barrier layer inhibits passage of dopant from the polysilicon layer therethrough.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of forming an insulative nitride cap over the conductive layer.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of patterning the layers to form a gate stack.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: forming a barrier layer over the doped polysilicon layer; forming a conductive metal layer over the barrier layer; forming an insulative nitride cap over the conductive metal layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: forming a metal silicide layer over the doped polysilicon layer; forming an insulative nitride cap over the metal silicide layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack.
 17. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas under a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the dielectric layer with silicon; and exposing the silicon on the dielectric layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 18. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas by chemical vapor deposition under a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the dielectric layer with silicon; and exposing the silicon on the dielectric layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of exposing the dielectric layer to the silicon gas comprises rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition conducted at about 500-700° C. and a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of exposing the dielectric layer to the silicon gas comprises plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of exposing the dielectric layer to the silicon gas comprises low pressure chemical vapor deposition.
 22. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to deposit silicon thereon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; and exposing the silicon on the dielectric layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 23. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas to nucleate the dielectric layer with silicon; and thermally annealing the silicon on the dielectric layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 24. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² or less to deposit silicon thereon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; and thermally annealing the silicon on the dielectric layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 25. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to deposit silicon thereon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; and nitridizing the silicon on the dielectric layer with a plasma source of nitrogen to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 26. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: irradiating a dielectric layer situated on a silicon substrate with a silicon gas under low partial pressure to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; and nitridizing the silicon layer.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of irradiating the dielectric layer is at a partial pressure about 10⁻² Torr or less.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of irradiating the dielectric layer is at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of irradiating the dielectric layer is by a process selected from the group consisting of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, low pressure chemical vapor deposition, and rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition.
 30. The method of claim 26, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon dioxide.
 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the dielectric layer comprises an oxide material selected from the group consisting of tantalum pentoxide, hafnium dioxide, and aluminum trioxide.
 32. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer overlying a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; and nitridizing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas.
 33. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing an oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; and thermally annealing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas.
 34. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing an oxide layer to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the oxide layer with a layer of silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen gas at a temperature of about 700-900° C. to nitridize the silicon layer.
 35. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: depositing a silicon layer onto a dielectric layer by exposing the dielectric layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a plasma source of nitrogen to nitridize the silicon layer.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of producing the plasma nitrogen by a system selected from the group consisting of a downstream microwave system, an electron cyclotron residence system, an inductive coupled plasma system, and a radio frequency system.
 37. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: exposing a dielectric layer to a silicon gas under a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a remote microwave plasma source of nitrogen at a pressure of about 1-20 Torr to nitridize the silicon layer.
 38. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure to nucleate the gate oxide layer with silicon; and exposing the silicon on the gate oxide layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer.
 39. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas by chemical vapor deposition under a low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the gate oxide layer with silicon; and exposing the silicon on the gate oxide layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer.
 40. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to deposit silicon thereon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; and exposing the silicon on the gate oxide layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer.
 41. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas to nucleate the gate oxide layer with silicon; and thermally annealing the silicon on the gate oxide layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer.
 42. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to deposit silicon thereon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; and thermally annealing the silicon on the gate oxide layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer.
 43. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to deposit silicon thereon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; and nitridizing the silicon on the gate oxide layer with a plasma source of nitrogen to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer.
 44. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer to a silicon gas under low partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the gate oxide layer with silicon to a thickness of up to about 30 angstroms; exposing the silicon on the gate oxide layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer over the gate oxide layer; and forming a conductive layer over the silicon nitride barrier layer.
 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of forming an insulative nitride layer over the conductive layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack.
 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the conductive layer comprises doped polysilicon, and the nitride barrier layer inhibits passage of dopant from the conductive polysilicon layer through the barrier layer.
 47. The method of claim 46, further comprising: forming a barrier layer over the doped polysilicon layer; forming a conductive metal layer over the barrier layer; forming an insulative nitride layer over the conductive metal layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack.
 48. The method of claim 46, further comprising: forming a metal silicide layer over the doped polysilicon layer; forming an insulative nitride cap over the metal silicide layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack.
 49. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 50. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 51. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr and a temperature of about 500-700° C. to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer.
 52. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: depositing a silicon layer onto a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate by exposing the gate oxide layer to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less; and thermally annealing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas.
 53. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: depositing a silicon layer onto a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate by exposing the gate oxide layer to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less; and exposing the silicon layer to a nitrogen gas at a temperature of about 700-900° C. to nitridize the silicon layer to a silicon nitride layer.
 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the nitrogen gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, ammonia, nitrogen trifluoride, nitrogen oxide, and a mixture of nitrogen and helium.
 55. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: depositing a silicon layer onto a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate by exposing the dielectric layer to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less; and exposing the silicon layer to a plasma source of a nitrogen to nitridize the silicon layer.
 56. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: depositing a silicon layer onto a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate by exposing the dielectric layer to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less; and exposing the silicon layer to a remote microwave plasma source of a nitrogen gas at a temperature of about 700-900° C. and a pressure of about 1-20 Torr to nitridize the silicon layer.
 57. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: depositing a silicon layer onto a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate by exposing the dielectric layer to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² Torr or less; and exposing the silicon layer to an inductive coupled plasma source of a nitrogen gas at a pressure of about 1-20 Torr to nitridize the silicon layer.
 58. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; nitridizing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer; and forming a conductive polysilicon layer comprising a conductivity enhancing dopant over the nitride barrier layer; wherein the nitride barrier layer inhibits passage of the dopant from the polysilicon layer therethrough.
 59. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; nitridizing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer; and forming a conductive polysilicon layer comprising a conductivity enhancing dopant over the nitride barrier layer; forming a barrier layer over the polysilicon layer; forming a conductive metal layer over the barrier layer; forming an insulative cap over the conductive metal layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack; wherein the nitride barrier layer inhibits passage of the dopant from the polysilicon layer therethrough
 60. A method of forming a gate electrode, comprising the steps of: exposing a gate oxide layer situated on a silicon substrate to a silicon gas at a partial pressure of about 10⁻² to about 10⁻⁷ Torr to nucleate the dielectric layer with a layer of silicon; nitridizing the silicon layer in a nitrogen gas to form a silicon nitride barrier layer; forming a conductive polysilicon layer comprising a conductivity enhancing dopant over the nitride barrier layer; forming a metal silicide layer over the polysilicon layer; forming an insulative nitride cap over the metal silicide layer; and patterning the layers to form a gate stack. 